New EyeforTravel Free Report: EyeforTravel North America Summit 2017 Round-up

We have a new report out now, which you can download for free, covering all the goings on at our largest US conference, the North America Summit 2017.

At the event it was all about using the leading edge of technology to address the age-old issue of improving the customer experience. See what technologies top brands are getting involved in and the tactics they are using with this report from the heart of the Summit.

EyeforTravel’s North America Summit took place in the wake of tragic events in Las Vegas but the travel industry came back with a roar to take on the big issues: Loyalty, technological disruption, changing distribution possibilities, customer experience, and partnerships. Download this completely free report now to see what key industry figures are saying about these topics and how they believe the industry will adapt.

The report features advice and learning from brands including IHG, Caesars, Lola Tech, Allegiant Air, Marriott, Google, and Priceline.

Get all the key discussions in one easy-to-digest report so you can keep on top of the ever-evolving world of travel and tourism by joining EyeforTravel On Demand's free service, or if you are a member of EyeforTravel On Demand Premium you can view all the videos from the Summit here.

Advances in data, analytics and technology are creating exciting opportunities for growth in APAC’s travel industry

Asia is a complex and fragmented market with vastly different types of consumer behaviour, languages and cultures. With rapidly changing technological development, the increase of low cost carriers in the region and the capability of the middle class to travel further, the possibilities of travel in Asia are becoming limitless.

 But the question remains, how can travel brands tackle such a diverse market? 

The revolution in data and analytics is changing what brands know about their customers. At the same time the growth of mobile use by travel consumers’ means that travel brands can service and sell more and for longer. According to a study by LeNovo, about 59 per cent of the respondents in Asia said they searched for travel accommodation online via mobile devices – 13 per cent above global average.  

 However, as Tim Gunstone, MD, EyeforTravel highlights, “In the battle to win the travel customer, if you don’t use both mobile and data to send contextualised communications then you risk losing customers to the travel companies that do”. In a recent interview with Tarandeep Singh, IHG’s Director of Revenue Analytics for the Asia Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region he said “data analytics have been able to rewrite our consumer segmentation and break it up by every brand to ensure we are talking to the right audience at all times,” This enables the group to target far more accurately with much higher conversion rates than a few years ago. 

 All this change means that established business models are showing signs of failing and huge opportunities are in place for the brave and insightful. New business models from start-ups such as TravelMob, HotelQuickly, Stayzilla, GrabTaxi and many others could potentially grow into billion dollar industries.  

 EyeforTravel’s 17^th Travel Distribution Summit Asia couldn’t come at a more opportune time. Taking place in Singapore, 20-21^st May, it will aim to bring together some of the leading APAC experts. 

The changes in the industry mean that the travel professional needs to fundamentally re-visit and discuss how they can work together effectively and profitably.  If they don’t, they risk facing commoditisation of their product and missing the huge opportunity to use data and analytics to increase ancillary product sales. 

For years, EyeforTravel’s TDS Asia event has been the educational meeting place for the innovators in the travel industry.  This year is no different, but we also have added into that mix some of the biggest brands in travel to brainstorm on the future of APAC’s travel.

 Marketing, innovation, technology, analytics, RM and mobile experts from all branches of travel use this event as an annual meet up to predict the future of  travel in the region and to network in view of profitable partnerships.

By Mariah Assuncao, Global Conference Director, EyeforTravel
Mariah@eyefortravel.com

The President of Sabre Hospitality or the CTO of Airbnb or the COO of Citizen M hotels?

All three are meeting to look at how mobile is impacting accommodation sales. Who has the best plan to grow?

If any travel sector is reeling from the impact of mobile it’s the accommodation sector. The dominance of OTA hotel booking apps has led to our researchers hearing about huge drops in brand led direct bookings. But the hotels occupancy levels are still high. How will the owners react? 

One way that the brands are defending their position is by investing in incredibly useful apps that their guests will want to use. We are seeing huge ROI on the brand apps that extend the services the big brands can offer and the products they can sell. 

And we heard this week that Barclays financial analysts finally recognise that Airbnb (and its 50% per annum growth) is having an impact on the hotel industry. Accor is singled out by Barclays for attention with “9% of its rooms under threat”

This debate is part of the event I am running at Mobile World Congress this March 2. Who do you feel is going to have the best future strategy?

Come along and participate in the debate live or subscribe to gain access to the recording.

Tim Gunstone

Managing Director

+44 (0)207 375 7557

Mobile +44 (0) 7815814314

tim@eyefortravel.com

How travel marketers calculate ROI on Social Media – and why the future is Mobile

In partnership with our friends at SimpliFlying, we’ve developed an informative infographic looking at the burning issues that airlines and travel marketers in general will be looking to tackle over the next twelve months. Two questions in particular are addressed in this infographic:

1. In what direction does the industry see social media evolving?
2. What business goals travelers are driving and if they’re calculating ROI

Uncertainty still remains about how to measure ROI on social media – primarily because there are so many divergent ways that people approach measuring ROI.   A favourite approach of ours is that of Barbara Pezzi, Fairmont Raffles International.   A self-confessed analytics geek, Barbara offers detailed advice on how to add real meaning to the varying elements of social media campaigns.  Importantly, she takes a holistic approach and does not attempt to analyse social media in isolation.

Barbara’s next presentation for EyeforTravel will take place at EyeforTravel’s upcoming Social Media & Mobile Strategies for Travel conference, March 5-6, San Francisco.

With regard to mobile, the infographic highlights the trend for travel consumers to use mobile at the pre-purchase stage to research their travel plans.  Many also use mobile during their trip – providing a new and exciting window for innovative travel brands to further inform, engage and potentially up-sell during their trip.

Note: The findings in the infographic below are all sourced from Eyefortravel’s “Social Media and Mobile Strategies for the Travel Industry 2011″ report. The full report can downloaded here. You can use the discount code: SIMP100 to save $100!


Infographic: (click here to see the original, bigger size)